Updated on June 21, 2025 01:15:58 PM
In Kerala, establishing an NGO is a powerful way to give back to the community and support causes like rural development, healthcare, education, women's empowerment, and environmental preservation. An NGO must be properly registered in order to operate legally and win over the public, donors, and government agencies.
NGOs in Kerala may register under one of three legal forms: a Section 8 Company, a Trust, or a Society. A trust needs at least two trustees and is best suited for religious and charitable purposes. A society must have at least seven members to be governed by the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955 (also known as the Societies Registration Act, 1860). For those looking for a professional and organized nonprofit organization, a Section 8 Company, established under the Companies Act of 2013, is ideal.
There are many advantages to registering an NGO in Kerala. In addition to giving the organization legal status, it enables it to establish credibility, apply for government grants and corporate social responsibility funding, open a bank account, and accept donations from both domestic and international sources. All members' identification and proof of address, the Memorandum of Association (MOA), the Rules and Regulations, or the Trust Deed, and passport-sized photos are required.
The process is quicker and easier with Kerala's online NGO registration option. Expert advice guarantees that all paperwork is accurate and conforms to legal specifications.
NGO Registration [Sample]
NGO registration in Kerala refers to the legal process of forming a not-for-profit organization that works towards social, educational, environmental, or charitable objectives. Anyone wishing to serve society can register an NGO in Kerala under three structures: Trust, Society, or Section 8 Company.
Each type has a different governing body. Trusts are registered under the Indian Trusts Act with the Sub-Registrar, Societies are registered under the Kerala Societies Registration Act, and Section 8 Companies are incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
The registration process includes preparing documents like ID/address proof of members, a registered office address, and a declaration of the NGO’s objectives. Once registered, the NGO becomes eligible for 12A and 80G tax exemptions, government funding, CSR grants, and foreign donations (with FCRA approval). Legal registration also helps build trust with beneficiaries, partners, and donors.
There are three types of NGO registration and each of them are governed by different laws:
Section 8 company is the most popular form of NGO registration and has more credibility among donors, government and other stakeholders. It has more benefits than traditional charitable institutions and is registered under the Companies Act, 2013. The main objective of Section 8 company is to promote arts, sports, commerce, science, religion, social welfare, charity and environmental protection. Section 8 company can be registered both as a private limited company or a public limited company.
Trust, also known as Charitable Trust, is a non-profit organization registered under the Trust Act of 1882. Trust is incorporated as a legal entity where the owner or “trustor” transfers his assets to the second party or “trustee” for the benefit of the third party or “beneficiary”. There are two types of trust - Public Trust and Private Trust. Public Trust is created to provide benefit to the general public, and Private Trust is created to benefit a particular group of individuals.
Society is a form of non-governmental organization created by a group of individuals united for a common non-profit objective of a charitable cause. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. All the entity members come together and work towards promoting charitable activities like education, art, science, religion, sport, etc.
Note: It should be ensured that the company name does not resemble the name of any other already registered company and also does not violate the provisions of emblems and names (Prevention of Improper Use Act, 1950). You can quickly check the name availability by using our company name search tool to verify the same.
The total fee for NGO registration in Kerala is ₹12,499 , which includes government fee as well as professional fee of Professional Utilities.
| NGO Registration in Kerala | Registration Fees |
|---|---|
| ✅ Digital Signature Certificate Fee | ₹3,000 |
| ✅ Government Fee(Stamp Duty) | ₹5,500 |
| ✅ Professional Fee | ₹3,999 |
| ✅ Total Cost | ₹12,499* |
Note: The aformentioned Fees is exclusive of GST.
*Important Note: The total cost of registering a company varies from state to state. Refer to the map for state-wise prices.
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Post incorporation of Section 8 company, you’ll receive the following documents:
Post incorporation of Trust, you’ll receive the following documents:
Post incorporation of Society, you’ll receive the following documents:
Working towards the betterment and improvement of society without any profit motive is an excellent service to the world. To do that legally, establishing an NGO is very important to get various benefits like donations from prominent foundations, tax exemptions, etc.
Choosing the suitable form of NGO is equally crucial as it is a one time work but would benefit the organization in the long-term. We at Professional Utilities offer free expert consultation to help you choose the right kind of non-profit organization as per your requirements. Get in touch with our professional team to decide which form of non-governmental organization is most suitable for your company’s goals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
First, you need to decide which type of NGO you want to establish. Secondly, you need to arrange & provide proper identity & address proof of directors, members, and professionals' declaration (CA, CS, etc.).
It depends on the type of NGO and the number of people registered as members.
Name of a Section 8 Company (NGO) should not include the words Private Limited (Pvt. Ltd.) or Limited (Ltd.) at the end of its name. The proposed name of a Section 8 Company shall include either of the words - Foundation / Forum / Association / Federation / Chambers / Confederation / Council / Electoral Trust as per Rule 8A(1)(u) of Companies (Incorporation) Fifth Amendment Rules, 2019.
No, a single person cannot start an NGO. Minimum two people are required for Section 8 company incorporation, and at least three people are required for Trust and Society registration.
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